BIN men facing a pay cut of up to £3,500 a year demonstrated outside a town hall in protest to the ‘potentially life-changing’ changes.

Darlington Borough Council is consulting on plans to reduce the pay of up to 36 members of its Street Scene department, in an effort to cut costs but ultimately save jobs.

The council is looking to trim almost £14m from its budget over the next three year, having already introduced deep budget cuts since 2010.

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Although the proposals will affect the wages of Street Scene staff – who are responsible for bin collections and litter-picking among other duties – no jobs will be lost as a result of the process.

Members of Unison and the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (Ucatt) gathered outside Darlington Town Hall before a scheduled meeting of the council’s cabinet on Tuesday (April 29).

The cabinet meeting – at which these changes were not an agenda item - was delayed slightly while some 12 Street Scene staff held an impromptu behind-closed-doors meeting with council chiefs.

Bob Wood, Unison membership officer for Darlington, said: “Some people are losing substantial amounts of money. Can anyone really afford that in the current economic climate?”

Unison regional organiser Mike Hill added: “In this day and age, with people struggling to survive, the level of cuts to be implemented by the council is not only a disgrace, but it’s also a potentially life-changing situation.

“These men cannot afford to take such a pay cut and they deserve more respect.”

Ucatt development officer Ray Sanderson accused the council of failing to engage in ‘meaningful consultation’ over the issue.

He added: “They seem to be picking on the Street Scene guys, when a fairer way of cutting costs more effectively may have been for every council employee to have forfeited a day’s wages.”

Council chief executive Ada Burns, who was among those to meet with Street Scene staff in private before the cabinet meeting, said: “We will continue to put in place opportunities to lessen the impact of the changes on individual members of staff.

“A number of staff are potentially detrimentally impacted by the changes; not surprisingly they are concerned about the impact of that.

“We have had in excess of 500 jobs go from the council in recent years, including senior management, which has been reduced by a third in the last few years.”

Comments

NOTODDEN
7:52pm Tue 29 Apr 14

Why is this group being targetted so disgracefully ? Why not achieve these savings by cutting salaries by whatever per cent of senior managers earning over 30k starting with Ada Burns ? These are DBC employees who at least provide a worthwhile service to the community in marked contrast to the high ranking pencil pushers who still infest this council

Why is this group being targetted so disgracefully ? Why not achieve these savings by cutting salaries by whatever per cent of senior managers earning over 30k starting with Ada Burns ? These are DBC employees who at least provide a worthwhile service to the community in marked contrast to the high ranking pencil pushers who still infest this councilNOTODDEN

Why is this group being targetted so disgracefully ? Why not achieve these savings by cutting salaries by whatever per cent of senior managers earning over 30k starting with Ada Burns ? These are DBC employees who at least provide a worthwhile service to the community in marked contrast to the high ranking pencil pushers who still infest this council

Score: 79

oliviaden6
8:02pm Tue 29 Apr 14

Alas in the scheme of things it is always the BLUE COLLAR workers pick up the tab for the serious short comings and historical mismanagement of the council. Darlington is ripe for change and is in desperate need of bringing out of the dark ages and it historical voting patterns, Time for change is now. These Blue Collar workers are the easy touch for the well heeled in the council there argument is if you dont like it leave, its not just the council it rife through industry through out UK. All councils need to look to there structures of management and reduce the white collar before the blue.

Alas in the scheme of things it is always the BLUE COLLAR workers pick up the tab for the serious short comings and historical mismanagement of the council. Darlington is ripe for change and is in desperate need of bringing out of the dark ages and it historical voting patterns, Time for change is now. These Blue Collar workers are the easy touch for the well heeled in the council there argument is if you dont like it leave, its not just the council it rife through industry through out UK. All councils need to look to there structures of management and reduce the white collar before the blue.oliviaden6

Alas in the scheme of things it is always the BLUE COLLAR workers pick up the tab for the serious short comings and historical mismanagement of the council. Darlington is ripe for change and is in desperate need of bringing out of the dark ages and it historical voting patterns, Time for change is now. These Blue Collar workers are the easy touch for the well heeled in the council there argument is if you dont like it leave, its not just the council it rife through industry through out UK. All councils need to look to there structures of management and reduce the white collar before the blue.

Score: 43

meeeeeeeeeeeeee
8:13pm Tue 29 Apr 14

think there was more then 12 went in as i no bout 25 went in

think there was more then 12 went in as i no bout 25 went inmeeeeeeeeeeeeee

think there was more then 12 went in as i no bout 25 went in

Score: 2

thetruthyoucanthandlethetruth
8:19pm Tue 29 Apr 14

I wonder when Burns and Billy boy Dixon last took a pay cut? Would be very interesting to find out if and when they ever did and what percentage of their salaries they actually lost.

I wonder when Burns and Billy boy Dixon last took a pay cut? Would be very interesting to find out if and when they ever did and what percentage of their salaries they actually lost.thetruthyoucanthandlethetruth

I wonder when Burns and Billy boy Dixon last took a pay cut? Would be very interesting to find out if and when they ever did and what percentage of their salaries they actually lost.

Score: 61

Rover13
8:20pm Tue 29 Apr 14

Many others have had their wages cut, this doesn't stop dbc putting up our council tax

Many others have had their wages cut, this doesn't stop dbc putting up our council taxRover13

Many others have had their wages cut, this doesn't stop dbc putting up our council tax

Score: 25

behonest
8:28pm Tue 29 Apr 14

What are these working class binmen moaning about? At least it's a Labour council cutting their wages! Just after the same Labour council hit everyone in Darlo with the maximum council tax increase permitted by law. But just keep on voting Labour, you know you just have to...

Vote UKIP! Just to spite these Labour loonies!

What are these working class binmen moaning about? At least it's a Labour council cutting their wages! Just after the same Labour council hit everyone in Darlo with the maximum council tax increase permitted by law. But just keep on voting Labour, you know you just have to...
Vote UKIP! Just to spite these Labour loonies!behonest

What are these working class binmen moaning about? At least it's a Labour council cutting their wages! Just after the same Labour council hit everyone in Darlo with the maximum council tax increase permitted by law. But just keep on voting Labour, you know you just have to...

Vote UKIP! Just to spite these Labour loonies!

Score: -24

truggggg
8:48pm Tue 29 Apr 14

What is the point of having a contract if the employer can just rip it up whenever they like

What is the point of having a contract if the employer can just rip it up whenever they liketruggggg

What is the point of having a contract if the employer can just rip it up whenever they like

Score: 48

Got Ya
9:06pm Tue 29 Apr 14

What a bonny lass that Ada Burns is.........no wonder 25 of the Street Scene lads were queuing up to meet her.

What a bonny lass that Ada Burns is.........no wonder 25 of the Street Scene lads were queuing up to meet her.Got Ya

What a bonny lass that Ada Burns is.........no wonder 25 of the Street Scene lads were queuing up to meet her.

Score: 15

capt manners
9:10pm Tue 29 Apr 14

truggggg wrote…

What is the point of having a contract if the employer can just rip it up whenever they like

You can thank the great Thatcher for that.

Stole the working mans voice.

[quote][p][bold]truggggg[/bold] wrote:
What is the point of having a contract if the employer can just rip it up whenever they like[/p][/quote]You can thank the great Thatcher for that.
Stole the working mans voice.capt manners

truggggg wrote…

What is the point of having a contract if the employer can just rip it up whenever they like

You can thank the great Thatcher for that.

Stole the working mans voice.

Score: 10

DarloXman
11:51pm Tue 29 Apr 14

thetruthyoucanthandl
ethetruth wrote…

I wonder when Burns and Billy boy Dixon last took a pay cut? Would be very interesting to find out if and when they ever did and what percentage of their salaries they actually lost.

I can tell you now..... NEVER!

“We have had in excess of 500 jobs go from the council in recent years, including senior management, which has been reduced by a third in the last few years.”

Well Mrs Burn's obscene £186,000+ salary has survived all this cost cutting by the council. Shameful!

[quote][p][bold]thetruthyoucanthandl
ethetruth[/bold] wrote:
I wonder when Burns and Billy boy Dixon last took a pay cut? Would be very interesting to find out if and when they ever did and what percentage of their salaries they actually lost.[/p][/quote]I can tell you now..... NEVER!
“We have had in excess of 500 jobs go from the council in recent years, including senior management, which has been reduced by a third in the last few years.”
Well Mrs Burn's obscene £186,000+ salary has survived all this cost cutting by the council. Shameful!DarloXman

thetruthyoucanthandl
ethetruth wrote…

I wonder when Burns and Billy boy Dixon last took a pay cut? Would be very interesting to find out if and when they ever did and what percentage of their salaries they actually lost.

I can tell you now..... NEVER!

“We have had in excess of 500 jobs go from the council in recent years, including senior management, which has been reduced by a third in the last few years.”

Well Mrs Burn's obscene £186,000+ salary has survived all this cost cutting by the council. Shameful!

Score: 42

maw.si
11:54pm Tue 29 Apr 14

Well if u not happy with your local council you have the right to start a petition for a vote of no confidence and have them removed,but will that happen? I don't think so, the great british public will have a good moan about things but then just carry on accepting what these public office people say and do.

Well if u not happy with your local council you have the right to start a petition for a vote of no confidence and have them removed,but will that happen? I don't think so, the great british public will have a good moan about things but then just carry on accepting what these public office people say and do.maw.si

Well if u not happy with your local council you have the right to start a petition for a vote of no confidence and have them removed,but will that happen? I don't think so, the great british public will have a good moan about things but then just carry on accepting what these public office people say and do.

Score: 17

SirLance
2:54am Wed 30 Apr 14

Is that correct at 186,00 pounds plus per year for 'Council Chief Executive'?? What is going on in Darlington that ever calls for such a grand pay scale! Look up the word 'council' ----it means a representative meeting offering advice! What kind of advice do you get for that hugely obscene salary? --and that's only one individual!! Come on Darlington, get this council junket bandwagon stopped! Turkeys voting for Christmas comes to mind! The bin men do a great job, they take away the rubbish whilst the 'Council executives' (Am I dreaming? does that title really exist ?) churn out the rubbish! George Orwell could have written a book about something like this happening!!

Is that correct at 186,00 pounds plus per year for 'Council Chief Executive'?? What is going on in Darlington that ever calls for such a grand pay scale! Look up the word 'council' ----it means a representative meeting offering advice! What kind of advice do you get for that hugely obscene salary? --and that's only one individual!! Come on Darlington, get this council junket bandwagon stopped! Turkeys voting for Christmas comes to mind! The bin men do a great job, they take away the rubbish whilst the 'Council executives' (Am I dreaming? does that title really exist ?) churn out the rubbish! George Orwell could have written a book about something like this happening!!SirLance

Is that correct at 186,00 pounds plus per year for 'Council Chief Executive'?? What is going on in Darlington that ever calls for such a grand pay scale! Look up the word 'council' ----it means a representative meeting offering advice! What kind of advice do you get for that hugely obscene salary? --and that's only one individual!! Come on Darlington, get this council junket bandwagon stopped! Turkeys voting for Christmas comes to mind! The bin men do a great job, they take away the rubbish whilst the 'Council executives' (Am I dreaming? does that title really exist ?) churn out the rubbish! George Orwell could have written a book about something like this happening!!

Score: 30

Graeme_r
7:53am Wed 30 Apr 14

maw.si wrote…

Well if u not happy with your local council you have the right to start a petition for a vote of no confidence and have them removed,but will that happen? I don't think so, the great british public will have a good moan about things but then just carry on accepting what these public office people say and do.

You can do this for town and parish councils but not for a principal council such as Darlington Borough Council as you believe.

[quote][p][bold]maw.si[/bold] wrote:
Well if u not happy with your local council you have the right to start a petition for a vote of no confidence and have them removed,but will that happen? I don't think so, the great british public will have a good moan about things but then just carry on accepting what these public office people say and do.[/p][/quote]You can do this for town and parish councils but not for a principal council such as Darlington Borough Council as you believe.Graeme_r

maw.si wrote…

Well if u not happy with your local council you have the right to start a petition for a vote of no confidence and have them removed,but will that happen? I don't think so, the great british public will have a good moan about things but then just carry on accepting what these public office people say and do.

You can do this for town and parish councils but not for a principal council such as Darlington Borough Council as you believe.

Score: 2

RealLivin
8:47am Wed 30 Apr 14

This is business for you, if you are incharge and have responsibility you deserve a fortune in pay, if you screw it up oh well your sacked but hes the rest of your contracted pay and just to say were sorry for you screwing it up here a bonus. But if you are the worker the person actually doing the job the person actual providing the service its privilege for you to work for us, what are you complaining about wages below the minimum, think your selves lucky you could be unemployed and being doing the job for nothing, oh sorry that nothing to us the tax payer is still paying you JSA and now we have you working for us theres no more jobs for you to escape the unemployment lines.

Its time the whole picture was looked and and completely re arranged, its time to stop wasting money on holding up the benefits system and use that money to create jobs with real livin wages , else under the new rules any one on a low income will be stuck on tax credits or worse off as they will be just out of the range of these by just pennies and no hope of getting above these as wages get lower and more unemployed are forced to do the low paid jobs for their JSA and as more of these are used the more the low paid jobs will go and the unemployed will find themselves doing their old jobs for less than before and loosing all benefits if they complain about it.

The only answer it real jobs with real livin wages and a stop to paying admin staff wages in that most people would only get if they won the lottery, there is NO person in this world worth the wages these people are getting paid, if you cant get some at a lower wage try training some one with real qualifications for that job, Administration can be automated real jobs cant

This is business for you, if you are incharge and have responsibility you deserve a fortune in pay, if you screw it up oh well your sacked but hes the rest of your contracted pay and just to say were sorry for you screwing it up here a bonus. But if you are the worker the person actually doing the job the person actual providing the service its privilege for you to work for us, what are you complaining about wages below the minimum, think your selves lucky you could be unemployed and being doing the job for nothing, oh sorry that nothing to us the tax payer is still paying you JSA and now we have you working for us theres no more jobs for you to escape the unemployment lines.
Its time the whole picture was looked and and completely re arranged, its time to stop wasting money on holding up the benefits system and use that money to create jobs with real livin wages , else under the new rules any one on a low income will be stuck on tax credits or worse off as they will be just out of the range of these by just pennies and no hope of getting above these as wages get lower and more unemployed are forced to do the low paid jobs for their JSA and as more of these are used the more the low paid jobs will go and the unemployed will find themselves doing their old jobs for less than before and loosing all benefits if they complain about it.
The only answer it real jobs with real livin wages and a stop to paying admin staff wages in that most people would only get if they won the lottery, there is NO person in this world worth the wages these people are getting paid, if you cant get some at a lower wage try training some one with real qualifications for that job, Administration can be automated real jobs cantRealLivin

This is business for you, if you are incharge and have responsibility you deserve a fortune in pay, if you screw it up oh well your sacked but hes the rest of your contracted pay and just to say were sorry for you screwing it up here a bonus. But if you are the worker the person actually doing the job the person actual providing the service its privilege for you to work for us, what are you complaining about wages below the minimum, think your selves lucky you could be unemployed and being doing the job for nothing, oh sorry that nothing to us the tax payer is still paying you JSA and now we have you working for us theres no more jobs for you to escape the unemployment lines.

Its time the whole picture was looked and and completely re arranged, its time to stop wasting money on holding up the benefits system and use that money to create jobs with real livin wages , else under the new rules any one on a low income will be stuck on tax credits or worse off as they will be just out of the range of these by just pennies and no hope of getting above these as wages get lower and more unemployed are forced to do the low paid jobs for their JSA and as more of these are used the more the low paid jobs will go and the unemployed will find themselves doing their old jobs for less than before and loosing all benefits if they complain about it.

The only answer it real jobs with real livin wages and a stop to paying admin staff wages in that most people would only get if they won the lottery, there is NO person in this world worth the wages these people are getting paid, if you cant get some at a lower wage try training some one with real qualifications for that job, Administration can be automated real jobs cant

Score: 12

MSG
8:50am Wed 30 Apr 14

It ia Ada Burns Chief Executive that needs to go this would save £200k and she would not be missed. The start with the Dixon and the mess he is making of the town !

It ia Ada Burns Chief Executive that needs to go this would save £200k and she would not be missed. The start with the Dixon and the mess he is making of the town !MSG

It ia Ada Burns Chief Executive that needs to go this would save £200k and she would not be missed. The start with the Dixon and the mess he is making of the town !

Score: 34

Madadrian
9:01am Wed 30 Apr 14

The two councillors in Northgate get £34000 between them. That is the council tax from almost 35 A band homes gone before a penny is spent on services. Snouts in the trough for years while the town dies

The two councillors in Northgate get £34000 between them. That is the council tax from almost 35 A band homes gone before a penny is spent on services. Snouts in the trough for years while the town diesMadadrian

The two councillors in Northgate get £34000 between them. That is the council tax from almost 35 A band homes gone before a penny is spent on services. Snouts in the trough for years while the town dies

Score: 28

David Lacey
9:23am Wed 30 Apr 14

HILARIOUS! You complain then vote them back in. When will the penny drop?

HILARIOUS! You complain then vote them back in. When will the penny drop?David Lacey

HILARIOUS! You complain then vote them back in. When will the penny drop?

Score: 26

laboursfoe
9:37am Wed 30 Apr 14

David Lacey wrote…

HILARIOUS! You complain then vote them back in. When will the penny drop?

Very true David.

[quote][p][bold]David Lacey[/bold] wrote:
HILARIOUS! You complain then vote them back in. When will the penny drop?[/p][/quote]Very true David.laboursfoe

David Lacey wrote…

HILARIOUS! You complain then vote them back in. When will the penny drop?

Very true David.

Score: 10

RealLivin
11:46am Wed 30 Apr 14

David Lacey wrote…

HILARIOUS! You complain then vote them back in. When will the penny drop?

To True its about time voters actually looked at the people they vote for and their polices, not I vote Labour/Tories cause my dad, did and his dad did. How much good have these councilors done after all the years they have been there, new councilors might not do any better but at least we tried them and whats more is existing councilors are more likely to get it right if there is a chance they will loose their cushy numbers. dont vote for parties vote for people.

[quote][p][bold]David Lacey[/bold] wrote:
HILARIOUS! You complain then vote them back in. When will the penny drop?[/p][/quote]To True its about time voters actually looked at the people they vote for and their polices, not I vote Labour/Tories cause my dad, did and his dad did. How much good have these councilors done after all the years they have been there, new councilors might not do any better but at least we tried them and whats more is existing councilors are more likely to get it right if there is a chance they will loose their cushy numbers. dont vote for parties vote for people.RealLivin

David Lacey wrote…

HILARIOUS! You complain then vote them back in. When will the penny drop?

To True its about time voters actually looked at the people they vote for and their polices, not I vote Labour/Tories cause my dad, did and his dad did. How much good have these councilors done after all the years they have been there, new councilors might not do any better but at least we tried them and whats more is existing councilors are more likely to get it right if there is a chance they will loose their cushy numbers. dont vote for parties vote for people.

Score: 9

thetruthyoucanthandlethetruth
12:05pm Wed 30 Apr 14

RealLivin wrote…

David Lacey wrote…

HILARIOUS! You complain then vote them back in. When will the penny drop?

To True its about time voters actually looked at the people they vote for and their polices, not I vote Labour/Tories cause my dad, did and his dad did. How much good have these councilors done after all the years they have been there, new councilors might not do any better but at least we tried them and whats more is existing councilors are more likely to get it right if there is a chance they will loose their cushy numbers. dont vote for parties vote for people.

It's because most voters in the North East are Lemmings with a pit village mentality.

This is the primary reason why the region is so stuck in the past and blighted with poverty and unemployment.

[quote][p][bold]RealLivin[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]David Lacey[/bold] wrote:
HILARIOUS! You complain then vote them back in. When will the penny drop?[/p][/quote]To True its about time voters actually looked at the people they vote for and their polices, not I vote Labour/Tories cause my dad, did and his dad did. How much good have these councilors done after all the years they have been there, new councilors might not do any better but at least we tried them and whats more is existing councilors are more likely to get it right if there is a chance they will loose their cushy numbers. dont vote for parties vote for people.[/p][/quote]It's because most voters in the North East are Lemmings with a pit village mentality.
This is the primary reason why the region is so stuck in the past and blighted with poverty and unemployment.thetruthyoucanthandlethetruth

RealLivin wrote…

David Lacey wrote…

HILARIOUS! You complain then vote them back in. When will the penny drop?

To True its about time voters actually looked at the people they vote for and their polices, not I vote Labour/Tories cause my dad, did and his dad did. How much good have these councilors done after all the years they have been there, new councilors might not do any better but at least we tried them and whats more is existing councilors are more likely to get it right if there is a chance they will loose their cushy numbers. dont vote for parties vote for people.

It's because most voters in the North East are Lemmings with a pit village mentality.

This is the primary reason why the region is so stuck in the past and blighted with poverty and unemployment.

Score: 10

christophano
12:38pm Wed 30 Apr 14

They have this back to front, they ought to be cutting the wages of the high earners at the top, not the grafters doing the work.

They have this back to front, they ought to be cutting the wages of the high earners at the top, not the grafters doing the work.christophano

They have this back to front, they ought to be cutting the wages of the high earners at the top, not the grafters doing the work.

Score: 19

pager11
12:45pm Wed 30 Apr 14

thetruthyoucanthandl
ethetruth wrote…

I wonder when Burns and Billy boy Dixon last took a pay cut? Would be very interesting to find out if and when they ever did and what percentage of their salaries they actually lost.

go onto the darlington.gov.uk website and you can see their salaries, of course this is only what you can see!

[quote][p][bold]thetruthyoucanthandl
ethetruth[/bold] wrote:
I wonder when Burns and Billy boy Dixon last took a pay cut? Would be very interesting to find out if and when they ever did and what percentage of their salaries they actually lost.[/p][/quote]go onto the darlington.gov.uk website and you can see their salaries, of course this is only what you can see!pager11

thetruthyoucanthandl
ethetruth wrote…

I wonder when Burns and Billy boy Dixon last took a pay cut? Would be very interesting to find out if and when they ever did and what percentage of their salaries they actually lost.

go onto the darlington.gov.uk website and you can see their salaries, of course this is only what you can see!

Score: 8

MartinMo
3:34pm Wed 30 Apr 14

I was not even aware Darlington council still employed litter pickers, for the past month or so when walking to work I pass the same wind blown rubbish caught in hedge rows and fence lines. This plefora of trash slowly increases in quantity with some it looking as though its been there many years.

As for the weekly trash collection, well, the least said about the way that task is carried out the better.

If I was told the cuts to their salary was performance related I, from what I've seen and witnessed, would agree with the cuts. Seeing as how it's just to lower expenditure then yes, as other said, cuts just start at the top.

I was not even aware Darlington council still employed litter pickers, for the past month or so when walking to work I pass the same wind blown rubbish caught in hedge rows and fence lines. This plefora of trash slowly increases in quantity with some it looking as though its been there many years.
As for the weekly trash collection, well, the least said about the way that task is carried out the better.
If I was told the cuts to their salary was performance related I, from what I've seen and witnessed, would agree with the cuts. Seeing as how it's just to lower expenditure then yes, as other said, cuts just start at the top.MartinMo

I was not even aware Darlington council still employed litter pickers, for the past month or so when walking to work I pass the same wind blown rubbish caught in hedge rows and fence lines. This plefora of trash slowly increases in quantity with some it looking as though its been there many years.

As for the weekly trash collection, well, the least said about the way that task is carried out the better.

If I was told the cuts to their salary was performance related I, from what I've seen and witnessed, would agree with the cuts. Seeing as how it's just to lower expenditure then yes, as other said, cuts just start at the top.

Score: -9

Spy Boy
6:35pm Wed 30 Apr 14

“A number of staff are potentially detrimentally impacted by the changes; not surprisingly they are concerned about the impact of that.

“We have had in excess of 500 jobs go from the council in recent years, including senior management, which has been reduced by a third in the last few years.”

We know all about this Ada. We just want to know when you are leaving your enelected council post to go where you can allegedly earn a lot more money. Please go. Don't feel that we need you stay on on your inflated salary and pension.

One thing about Bill Dixon: He was actually elected into his position as a councillor by the residents of Darlington. The only way to to get rid of him is to vote him out. This is how democracy is supposed to work. Here's an interesting solution to our problems: Use you votes tactically next year. Don't vote for these pretend socialists. If they get in again, then you only have yourselves to blame, so you can then sit and stew until the next rounds of cuts. You ain't seen nothing yet. One thing you won't see is the council execs being hit in any way.

Lads on the bins, I'm right behind you. Fight it all the way, even to The Hague. What Burns, Dixon and Co are trying to do to you is disgusting and against your rights.

“A number of staff are potentially detrimentally impacted by the changes; not surprisingly they are concerned about the impact of that.
“We have had in excess of 500 jobs go from the council in recent years, including senior management, which has been reduced by a third in the last few years.”
We know all about this Ada. We just want to know when you are leaving your enelected council post to go where you can allegedly earn a lot more money. Please go. Don't feel that we need you stay on on your inflated salary and pension.
One thing about Bill Dixon: He was actually elected into his position as a councillor by the residents of Darlington. The only way to to get rid of him is to vote him out. This is how democracy is supposed to work. Here's an interesting solution to our problems: Use you votes tactically next year. Don't vote for these pretend socialists. If they get in again, then you only have yourselves to blame, so you can then sit and stew until the next rounds of cuts. You ain't seen nothing yet. One thing you won't see is the council execs being hit in any way.
Lads on the bins, I'm right behind you. Fight it all the way, even to The Hague. What Burns, Dixon and Co are trying to do to you is disgusting and against your rights.Spy Boy

“A number of staff are potentially detrimentally impacted by the changes; not surprisingly they are concerned about the impact of that.

“We have had in excess of 500 jobs go from the council in recent years, including senior management, which has been reduced by a third in the last few years.”

We know all about this Ada. We just want to know when you are leaving your enelected council post to go where you can allegedly earn a lot more money. Please go. Don't feel that we need you stay on on your inflated salary and pension.

One thing about Bill Dixon: He was actually elected into his position as a councillor by the residents of Darlington. The only way to to get rid of him is to vote him out. This is how democracy is supposed to work. Here's an interesting solution to our problems: Use you votes tactically next year. Don't vote for these pretend socialists. If they get in again, then you only have yourselves to blame, so you can then sit and stew until the next rounds of cuts. You ain't seen nothing yet. One thing you won't see is the council execs being hit in any way.

Lads on the bins, I'm right behind you. Fight it all the way, even to The Hague. What Burns, Dixon and Co are trying to do to you is disgusting and against your rights.

Score: 12

David Lacey
7:36pm Wed 30 Apr 14

Hey binmen - remember to vote LABOUR next time. The future is golden. Not for you of course, but who cares?

Hey binmen - remember to vote LABOUR next time. The future is golden. Not for you of course, but who cares?David Lacey

Hey binmen - remember to vote LABOUR next time. The future is golden. Not for you of course, but who cares?

Score: -4

DM1989
8:02pm Wed 30 Apr 14

You agree with the cuts because of litter? Well report it! The council I believe has 3 litterpickers one of whom is permanently in the town centre. Due to CUTS there is more litter and dirty streets, these street scene lads do a good job and are entitled to a break, why you see them say out having a break is probably because they haven't got time to be going back to the yard. Compare council owned land to privately owned land with a public through way and you will see the difference!

You agree with the cuts because of litter? Well report it! The council I believe has 3 litterpickers one of whom is permanently in the town centre. Due to CUTS there is more litter and dirty streets, these street scene lads do a good job and are entitled to a break, why you see them say out having a break is probably because they haven't got time to be going back to the yard. Compare council owned land to privately owned land with a public through way and you will see the difference!DM1989

You agree with the cuts because of litter? Well report it! The council I believe has 3 litterpickers one of whom is permanently in the town centre. Due to CUTS there is more litter and dirty streets, these street scene lads do a good job and are entitled to a break, why you see them say out having a break is probably because they haven't got time to be going back to the yard. Compare council owned land to privately owned land with a public through way and you will see the difference!

Score: 5

fedup binman
8:14pm Wed 30 Apr 14

streetscene lads take £3500 pay cut then they advertise a made up job regeneration officer on £115.000 a year makes you sick just taking the pi??

streetscene lads take £3500 pay cut then they advertise a made up job regeneration officer on £115.000 a year makes you sick just taking the pi??fedup binman

streetscene lads take £3500 pay cut then they advertise a made up job regeneration officer on £115.000 a year makes you sick just taking the pi??

Score: 14

NOTODDEN
8:23pm Wed 30 Apr 14

DM1989 wrote…

You agree with the cuts because of litter? Well report it! The council I believe has 3 litterpickers one of whom is permanently in the town centre. Due to CUTS there is more litter and dirty streets, these street scene lads do a good job and are entitled to a break, why you see them say out having a break is probably because they haven't got time to be going back to the yard. Compare council owned land to privately owned land with a public through way and you will see the difference!

Well said DM1989

[quote][p][bold]DM1989[/bold] wrote:
You agree with the cuts because of litter? Well report it! The council I believe has 3 litterpickers one of whom is permanently in the town centre. Due to CUTS there is more litter and dirty streets, these street scene lads do a good job and are entitled to a break, why you see them say out having a break is probably because they haven't got time to be going back to the yard. Compare council owned land to privately owned land with a public through way and you will see the difference![/p][/quote]Well said DM1989NOTODDEN

DM1989 wrote…

You agree with the cuts because of litter? Well report it! The council I believe has 3 litterpickers one of whom is permanently in the town centre. Due to CUTS there is more litter and dirty streets, these street scene lads do a good job and are entitled to a break, why you see them say out having a break is probably because they haven't got time to be going back to the yard. Compare council owned land to privately owned land with a public through way and you will see the difference!

Well said DM1989

Score: 2

bambara
9:01pm Wed 30 Apr 14

Tory propoganda. This is not something the local council has caused, it is down to Tory cuts to funding.

NOTE the following facts and figures:
On average councils in the ten most deprived areas will have cuts of 25% but councils in the ten richest areas will only lose 2.5%

Tory-run Wokingham, one of the richest areas in England, will get a 1.1% rise and Education Secretary Michael Gove’s council of Surrey Heath will receive a 0.9% increase in funding.

So remember what Tory propoganda merchant David Lacey says "Hey binmen - remember to vote LABOUR next time. The future is golden. Not for you of course, but who cares?"
& remember vote Labour, because otherwise the Tory cuts keep on coming.

Tory propoganda. This is not something the local council has caused, it is down to Tory cuts to funding.
NOTE the following facts and figures:
On average councils in the ten most deprived areas will have cuts of 25% but councils in the ten richest areas will only lose 2.5%
Tory-run Wokingham, one of the richest areas in England, will get a 1.1% rise and Education Secretary Michael Gove’s council of Surrey Heath will receive a 0.9% increase in funding.
So remember what Tory propoganda merchant David Lacey says "Hey binmen - remember to vote LABOUR next time. The future is golden. Not for you of course, but who cares?"
& remember vote Labour, because otherwise the Tory cuts keep on coming.bambara

Tory propoganda. This is not something the local council has caused, it is down to Tory cuts to funding.

NOTE the following facts and figures:
On average councils in the ten most deprived areas will have cuts of 25% but councils in the ten richest areas will only lose 2.5%

Tory-run Wokingham, one of the richest areas in England, will get a 1.1% rise and Education Secretary Michael Gove’s council of Surrey Heath will receive a 0.9% increase in funding.

So remember what Tory propoganda merchant David Lacey says "Hey binmen - remember to vote LABOUR next time. The future is golden. Not for you of course, but who cares?"
& remember vote Labour, because otherwise the Tory cuts keep on coming.

Score: 0

DarloXman
8:24am Thu 1 May 14

bambara wrote…

Tory propoganda. This is not something the local council has caused, it is down to Tory cuts to funding.

NOTE the following facts and figures:
On average councils in the ten most deprived areas will have cuts of 25% but councils in the ten richest areas will only lose 2.5%

Tory-run Wokingham, one of the richest areas in England, will get a 1.1% rise and Education Secretary Michael Gove’s council of Surrey Heath will receive a 0.9% increase in funding.

So remember what Tory propoganda merchant David Lacey says "Hey binmen - remember to vote LABOUR next time. The future is golden. Not for you of course, but who cares?"
& remember vote Labour, because otherwise the Tory cuts keep on coming.

bambara - you have a very short memory and selective reasoning!

Can you recall the need for the cuts? Blair/Brown's government of excess 1997-2010?

Financial prudence may have been forced upon free spending Darlington Council but look how they have decided to implement it! Cut the wages of the lowest paid yet continue with the gross obscene salaries of the senior management! How can anyone justify the obscene £186,000 for Ms Ada Burns, the council's chief executive - it's not as if she is managing the country, just a small town in the North East?

You really think Labour are looking after the interests of the working man? Really? They are more interested in feathering their own nests whilst suggesting they are the good guys.

Labour will never again get my vote.

[quote][p][bold]bambara[/bold] wrote:
Tory propoganda. This is not something the local council has caused, it is down to Tory cuts to funding.
NOTE the following facts and figures:
On average councils in the ten most deprived areas will have cuts of 25% but councils in the ten richest areas will only lose 2.5%
Tory-run Wokingham, one of the richest areas in England, will get a 1.1% rise and Education Secretary Michael Gove’s council of Surrey Heath will receive a 0.9% increase in funding.
So remember what Tory propoganda merchant David Lacey says "Hey binmen - remember to vote LABOUR next time. The future is golden. Not for you of course, but who cares?"
& remember vote Labour, because otherwise the Tory cuts keep on coming.[/p][/quote]bambara - you have a very short memory and selective reasoning!
Can you recall the need for the cuts? Blair/Brown's government of excess 1997-2010?
Financial prudence may have been forced upon free spending Darlington Council but look how they have decided to implement it! Cut the wages of the lowest paid yet continue with the gross obscene salaries of the senior management! How can anyone justify the obscene £186,000 for Ms Ada Burns, the council's chief executive - it's not as if she is managing the country, just a small town in the North East?
You really think Labour are looking after the interests of the working man? Really? They are more interested in feathering their own nests whilst suggesting they are the good guys.
Labour will never again get my vote.DarloXman

bambara wrote…

Tory propoganda. This is not something the local council has caused, it is down to Tory cuts to funding.

NOTE the following facts and figures:
On average councils in the ten most deprived areas will have cuts of 25% but councils in the ten richest areas will only lose 2.5%

Tory-run Wokingham, one of the richest areas in England, will get a 1.1% rise and Education Secretary Michael Gove’s council of Surrey Heath will receive a 0.9% increase in funding.

So remember what Tory propoganda merchant David Lacey says "Hey binmen - remember to vote LABOUR next time. The future is golden. Not for you of course, but who cares?"
& remember vote Labour, because otherwise the Tory cuts keep on coming.

bambara - you have a very short memory and selective reasoning!

Can you recall the need for the cuts? Blair/Brown's government of excess 1997-2010?

Financial prudence may have been forced upon free spending Darlington Council but look how they have decided to implement it! Cut the wages of the lowest paid yet continue with the gross obscene salaries of the senior management! How can anyone justify the obscene £186,000 for Ms Ada Burns, the council's chief executive - it's not as if she is managing the country, just a small town in the North East?

You really think Labour are looking after the interests of the working man? Really? They are more interested in feathering their own nests whilst suggesting they are the good guys.

Labour will never again get my vote.

Score: 8

MartinMo
8:34am Thu 1 May 14

Tories introduced cuts of up to 25% in order to aide the recovery of the economical financial mess.

Local labour councils decide how these cuts will affect the general public and workforce. It just so happens that this labour council reactions to these cuts is to increase the rate of council tax and introduce pay cuts to the lower paid workforce, then try to blame for the tories for it. I find it astonishing that not one member of senior staff is adversely affected by these cuts. The current labour council gets by through singling out and victimising those they are meant to serve and then pushing the blame elsewhere.

Labour is not for the working man and has not been for decades now, mind you, the tories are not that much better.

Tories introduced cuts of up to 25% in order to aide the recovery of the economical financial mess.
Local labour councils decide how these cuts will affect the general public and workforce. It just so happens that this labour council reactions to these cuts is to increase the rate of council tax and introduce pay cuts to the lower paid workforce, then try to blame for the tories for it. I find it astonishing that not one member of senior staff is adversely affected by these cuts. The current labour council gets by through singling out and victimising those they are meant to serve and then pushing the blame elsewhere.
Labour is not for the working man and has not been for decades now, mind you, the tories are not that much better.MartinMo

Tories introduced cuts of up to 25% in order to aide the recovery of the economical financial mess.

Local labour councils decide how these cuts will affect the general public and workforce. It just so happens that this labour council reactions to these cuts is to increase the rate of council tax and introduce pay cuts to the lower paid workforce, then try to blame for the tories for it. I find it astonishing that not one member of senior staff is adversely affected by these cuts. The current labour council gets by through singling out and victimising those they are meant to serve and then pushing the blame elsewhere.

Labour is not for the working man and has not been for decades now, mind you, the tories are not that much better.

Score: 9

MartinMo
8:49am Thu 1 May 14

DM1989 wrote…

You agree with the cuts because of litter? Well report it! The council I believe has 3 litterpickers one of whom is permanently in the town centre. Due to CUTS there is more litter and dirty streets, these street scene lads do a good job and are entitled to a break, why you see them say out having a break is probably because they haven't got time to be going back to the yard. Compare council owned land to privately owned land with a public through way and you will see the difference!

I said if the salary cuts where based on performance then they would be justified given the state of the streets throughout Darlington.

Not sure why you are babbbling on about breaks, I have never seen a litter picker on a break, I have not seen a litter at all. Now that with the fact the streets throughout Darlington are anything but litter free is why I opened my initial post with......."I was not even aware Darlington council still employed litter pickers"

I did notice a mistake that post on re-reading, 5th word from the end should have read "should", not "just".

[quote][p][bold]DM1989[/bold] wrote:
You agree with the cuts because of litter? Well report it! The council I believe has 3 litterpickers one of whom is permanently in the town centre. Due to CUTS there is more litter and dirty streets, these street scene lads do a good job and are entitled to a break, why you see them say out having a break is probably because they haven't got time to be going back to the yard. Compare council owned land to privately owned land with a public through way and you will see the difference![/p][/quote]I said if the salary cuts where based on performance then they would be justified given the state of the streets throughout Darlington.
Not sure why you are babbbling on about breaks, I have never seen a litter picker on a break, I have not seen a litter at all. Now that with the fact the streets throughout Darlington are anything but litter free is why I opened my initial post with......."I was not even aware Darlington council still employed litter pickers"
I did notice a mistake that post on re-reading, 5th word from the end should have read "should", not "just".MartinMo

DM1989 wrote…

You agree with the cuts because of litter? Well report it! The council I believe has 3 litterpickers one of whom is permanently in the town centre. Due to CUTS there is more litter and dirty streets, these street scene lads do a good job and are entitled to a break, why you see them say out having a break is probably because they haven't got time to be going back to the yard. Compare council owned land to privately owned land with a public through way and you will see the difference!

I said if the salary cuts where based on performance then they would be justified given the state of the streets throughout Darlington.

Not sure why you are babbbling on about breaks, I have never seen a litter picker on a break, I have not seen a litter at all. Now that with the fact the streets throughout Darlington are anything but litter free is why I opened my initial post with......."I was not even aware Darlington council still employed litter pickers"

I did notice a mistake that post on re-reading, 5th word from the end should have read "should", not "just".

Score: -2

Rosvanian
3:27pm Thu 1 May 14

Got Ya wrote…

What a bonny lass that Ada Burns is.........no wonder 25 of the Street Scene lads were queuing up to meet her.

Yep, you can't beat a good old personal insult when you've got nothing of any worth to say.

[quote][p][bold]Got Ya[/bold] wrote:
What a bonny lass that Ada Burns is.........no wonder 25 of the Street Scene lads were queuing up to meet her.[/p][/quote]Yep, you can't beat a good old personal insult when you've got nothing of any worth to say.Rosvanian

Got Ya wrote…

What a bonny lass that Ada Burns is.........no wonder 25 of the Street Scene lads were queuing up to meet her.

Yep, you can't beat a good old personal insult when you've got nothing of any worth to say.

Score: 0

Rosvanian
3:28pm Thu 1 May 14

behonest wrote…

What are these working class binmen moaning about? At least it's a Labour council cutting their wages! Just after the same Labour council hit everyone in Darlo with the maximum council tax increase permitted by law. But just keep on voting Labour, you know you just have to... Vote UKIP! Just to spite these Labour loonies!

By their own admission, UKIP doesn't have any policies about anything other than Europe so why would anyone vote UKIP in a local election?

[quote][p][bold]behonest[/bold] wrote:
What are these working class binmen moaning about? At least it's a Labour council cutting their wages! Just after the same Labour council hit everyone in Darlo with the maximum council tax increase permitted by law. But just keep on voting Labour, you know you just have to... Vote UKIP! Just to spite these Labour loonies![/p][/quote]By their own admission, UKIP doesn't have any policies about anything other than Europe so why would anyone vote UKIP in a local election?Rosvanian

behonest wrote…

What are these working class binmen moaning about? At least it's a Labour council cutting their wages! Just after the same Labour council hit everyone in Darlo with the maximum council tax increase permitted by law. But just keep on voting Labour, you know you just have to... Vote UKIP! Just to spite these Labour loonies!

By their own admission, UKIP doesn't have any policies about anything other than Europe so why would anyone vote UKIP in a local election?

Score: 1

Rosvanian
3:33pm Thu 1 May 14

Spy Boy wrote…

“A number of staff are potentially detrimentally impacted by the changes; not surprisingly they are concerned about the impact of that. “We have had in excess of 500 jobs go from the council in recent years, including senior management, which has been reduced by a third in the last few years.” We know all about this Ada. We just want to know when you are leaving your enelected council post to go where you can allegedly earn a lot more money. Please go. Don't feel that we need you stay on on your inflated salary and pension. One thing about Bill Dixon: He was actually elected into his position as a councillor by the residents of Darlington. The only way to to get rid of him is to vote him out. This is how democracy is supposed to work. Here's an interesting solution to our problems: Use you votes tactically next year. Don't vote for these pretend socialists. If they get in again, then you only have yourselves to blame, so you can then sit and stew until the next rounds of cuts. You ain't seen nothing yet. One thing you won't see is the council execs being hit in any way. Lads on the bins, I'm right behind you. Fight it all the way, even to The Hague. What Burns, Dixon and Co are trying to do to you is disgusting and against your rights.

Are you really that clueless? The CE of a local authority is paid employee, recruited like every other employee in every other public body. Of course she's unelected.

[quote][p][bold]Spy Boy[/bold] wrote:
“A number of staff are potentially detrimentally impacted by the changes; not surprisingly they are concerned about the impact of that. “We have had in excess of 500 jobs go from the council in recent years, including senior management, which has been reduced by a third in the last few years.” We know all about this Ada. We just want to know when you are leaving your enelected council post to go where you can allegedly earn a lot more money. Please go. Don't feel that we need you stay on on your inflated salary and pension. One thing about Bill Dixon: He was actually elected into his position as a councillor by the residents of Darlington. The only way to to get rid of him is to vote him out. This is how democracy is supposed to work. Here's an interesting solution to our problems: Use you votes tactically next year. Don't vote for these pretend socialists. If they get in again, then you only have yourselves to blame, so you can then sit and stew until the next rounds of cuts. You ain't seen nothing yet. One thing you won't see is the council execs being hit in any way. Lads on the bins, I'm right behind you. Fight it all the way, even to The Hague. What Burns, Dixon and Co are trying to do to you is disgusting and against your rights.[/p][/quote]Are you really that clueless? The CE of a local authority is paid employee, recruited like every other employee in every other public body. Of course she's unelected.Rosvanian

Spy Boy wrote…

“A number of staff are potentially detrimentally impacted by the changes; not surprisingly they are concerned about the impact of that. “We have had in excess of 500 jobs go from the council in recent years, including senior management, which has been reduced by a third in the last few years.” We know all about this Ada. We just want to know when you are leaving your enelected council post to go where you can allegedly earn a lot more money. Please go. Don't feel that we need you stay on on your inflated salary and pension. One thing about Bill Dixon: He was actually elected into his position as a councillor by the residents of Darlington. The only way to to get rid of him is to vote him out. This is how democracy is supposed to work. Here's an interesting solution to our problems: Use you votes tactically next year. Don't vote for these pretend socialists. If they get in again, then you only have yourselves to blame, so you can then sit and stew until the next rounds of cuts. You ain't seen nothing yet. One thing you won't see is the council execs being hit in any way. Lads on the bins, I'm right behind you. Fight it all the way, even to The Hague. What Burns, Dixon and Co are trying to do to you is disgusting and against your rights.

Are you really that clueless? The CE of a local authority is paid employee, recruited like every other employee in every other public body. Of course she's unelected.

Score: -3

DarloXman
4:22pm Thu 1 May 14

Rosvanian wrote…

Spy Boy wrote…

“A number of staff are potentially detrimentally impacted by the changes; not surprisingly they are concerned about the impact of that. “We have had in excess of 500 jobs go from the council in recent years, including senior management, which has been reduced by a third in the last few years.” We know all about this Ada. We just want to know when you are leaving your enelected council post to go where you can allegedly earn a lot more money. Please go. Don't feel that we need you stay on on your inflated salary and pension. One thing about Bill Dixon: He was actually elected into his position as a councillor by the residents of Darlington. The only way to to get rid of him is to vote him out. This is how democracy is supposed to work. Here's an interesting solution to our problems: Use you votes tactically next year. Don't vote for these pretend socialists. If they get in again, then you only have yourselves to blame, so you can then sit and stew until the next rounds of cuts. You ain't seen nothing yet. One thing you won't see is the council execs being hit in any way. Lads on the bins, I'm right behind you. Fight it all the way, even to The Hague. What Burns, Dixon and Co are trying to do to you is disgusting and against your rights.

Are you really that clueless? The CE of a local authority is paid employee, recruited like every other employee in every other public body. Of course she's unelected.

"Yep, you can't beat a good old personal insult when you've got nothing of any worth to say."

Pot, kettle??

[quote][p][bold]Rosvanian[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Spy Boy[/bold] wrote:
“A number of staff are potentially detrimentally impacted by the changes; not surprisingly they are concerned about the impact of that. “We have had in excess of 500 jobs go from the council in recent years, including senior management, which has been reduced by a third in the last few years.” We know all about this Ada. We just want to know when you are leaving your enelected council post to go where you can allegedly earn a lot more money. Please go. Don't feel that we need you stay on on your inflated salary and pension. One thing about Bill Dixon: He was actually elected into his position as a councillor by the residents of Darlington. The only way to to get rid of him is to vote him out. This is how democracy is supposed to work. Here's an interesting solution to our problems: Use you votes tactically next year. Don't vote for these pretend socialists. If they get in again, then you only have yourselves to blame, so you can then sit and stew until the next rounds of cuts. You ain't seen nothing yet. One thing you won't see is the council execs being hit in any way. Lads on the bins, I'm right behind you. Fight it all the way, even to The Hague. What Burns, Dixon and Co are trying to do to you is disgusting and against your rights.[/p][/quote]Are you really that clueless? The CE of a local authority is paid employee, recruited like every other employee in every other public body. Of course she's unelected.[/p][/quote]"Yep, you can't beat a good old personal insult when you've got nothing of any worth to say."
Pot, kettle??DarloXman

Rosvanian wrote…

Spy Boy wrote…

“A number of staff are potentially detrimentally impacted by the changes; not surprisingly they are concerned about the impact of that. “We have had in excess of 500 jobs go from the council in recent years, including senior management, which has been reduced by a third in the last few years.” We know all about this Ada. We just want to know when you are leaving your enelected council post to go where you can allegedly earn a lot more money. Please go. Don't feel that we need you stay on on your inflated salary and pension. One thing about Bill Dixon: He was actually elected into his position as a councillor by the residents of Darlington. The only way to to get rid of him is to vote him out. This is how democracy is supposed to work. Here's an interesting solution to our problems: Use you votes tactically next year. Don't vote for these pretend socialists. If they get in again, then you only have yourselves to blame, so you can then sit and stew until the next rounds of cuts. You ain't seen nothing yet. One thing you won't see is the council execs being hit in any way. Lads on the bins, I'm right behind you. Fight it all the way, even to The Hague. What Burns, Dixon and Co are trying to do to you is disgusting and against your rights.

Are you really that clueless? The CE of a local authority is paid employee, recruited like every other employee in every other public body. Of course she's unelected.

"Yep, you can't beat a good old personal insult when you've got nothing of any worth to say."

Pot, kettle??

Score: -1

Rosvanian
4:51pm Thu 1 May 14

DarloXman wrote…

Rosvanian wrote…

Spy Boy wrote…

“A number of staff are potentially detrimentally impacted by the changes; not surprisingly they are concerned about the impact of that. “We have had in excess of 500 jobs go from the council in recent years, including senior management, which has been reduced by a third in the last few years.” We know all about this Ada. We just want to know when you are leaving your enelected council post to go where you can allegedly earn a lot more money. Please go. Don't feel that we need you stay on on your inflated salary and pension. One thing about Bill Dixon: He was actually elected into his position as a councillor by the residents of Darlington. The only way to to get rid of him is to vote him out. This is how democracy is supposed to work. Here's an interesting solution to our problems: Use you votes tactically next year. Don't vote for these pretend socialists. If they get in again, then you only have yourselves to blame, so you can then sit and stew until the next rounds of cuts. You ain't seen nothing yet. One thing you won't see is the council execs being hit in any way. Lads on the bins, I'm right behind you. Fight it all the way, even to The Hague. What Burns, Dixon and Co are trying to do to you is disgusting and against your rights.

Are you really that clueless? The CE of a local authority is paid employee, recruited like every other employee in every other public body. Of course she's unelected.

"Yep, you can't beat a good old personal insult when you've got nothing of any worth to say." Pot, kettle??

I think that my comment is a world away from the very personal insult directed at the CE of the council, irrespective of what you might think of the decisions the council might make. And you know what? I think you probably know that as well.

[quote][p][bold]DarloXman[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Rosvanian[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Spy Boy[/bold] wrote: “A number of staff are potentially detrimentally impacted by the changes; not surprisingly they are concerned about the impact of that. “We have had in excess of 500 jobs go from the council in recent years, including senior management, which has been reduced by a third in the last few years.” We know all about this Ada. We just want to know when you are leaving your enelected council post to go where you can allegedly earn a lot more money. Please go. Don't feel that we need you stay on on your inflated salary and pension. One thing about Bill Dixon: He was actually elected into his position as a councillor by the residents of Darlington. The only way to to get rid of him is to vote him out. This is how democracy is supposed to work. Here's an interesting solution to our problems: Use you votes tactically next year. Don't vote for these pretend socialists. If they get in again, then you only have yourselves to blame, so you can then sit and stew until the next rounds of cuts. You ain't seen nothing yet. One thing you won't see is the council execs being hit in any way. Lads on the bins, I'm right behind you. Fight it all the way, even to The Hague. What Burns, Dixon and Co are trying to do to you is disgusting and against your rights.[/p][/quote]Are you really that clueless? The CE of a local authority is paid employee, recruited like every other employee in every other public body. Of course she's unelected.[/p][/quote]"Yep, you can't beat a good old personal insult when you've got nothing of any worth to say." Pot, kettle??[/p][/quote]I think that my comment is a world away from the very personal insult directed at the CE of the council, irrespective of what you might think of the decisions the council might make. And you know what? I think you probably know that as well.Rosvanian

DarloXman wrote…

Rosvanian wrote…

Spy Boy wrote…

“A number of staff are potentially detrimentally impacted by the changes; not surprisingly they are concerned about the impact of that. “We have had in excess of 500 jobs go from the council in recent years, including senior management, which has been reduced by a third in the last few years.” We know all about this Ada. We just want to know when you are leaving your enelected council post to go where you can allegedly earn a lot more money. Please go. Don't feel that we need you stay on on your inflated salary and pension. One thing about Bill Dixon: He was actually elected into his position as a councillor by the residents of Darlington. The only way to to get rid of him is to vote him out. This is how democracy is supposed to work. Here's an interesting solution to our problems: Use you votes tactically next year. Don't vote for these pretend socialists. If they get in again, then you only have yourselves to blame, so you can then sit and stew until the next rounds of cuts. You ain't seen nothing yet. One thing you won't see is the council execs being hit in any way. Lads on the bins, I'm right behind you. Fight it all the way, even to The Hague. What Burns, Dixon and Co are trying to do to you is disgusting and against your rights.

Are you really that clueless? The CE of a local authority is paid employee, recruited like every other employee in every other public body. Of course she's unelected.

"Yep, you can't beat a good old personal insult when you've got nothing of any worth to say." Pot, kettle??

I think that my comment is a world away from the very personal insult directed at the CE of the council, irrespective of what you might think of the decisions the council might make. And you know what? I think you probably know that as well.

Score: 0

loopeyloo75
8:15pm Thu 1 May 14

i worked for the council as a school cook. my hours were 25 a week. they were then knocked down to 15. the union stepped in and nothing was done. I lost 10 hours pay a week. we asked about the top earners getting a 5% pay cut. the idea was thrown out of the window never even thought about. I walk to work and every day a man is clearing the rubbish in Stanhope park left there daily by the students. he does not work for the council he does it for free. I walked in a park at the top of woodlands road last week and saw a streetscene worker playing on the swings whilst 2 other workers looked on. another was on the grass cutter doing some work. I know not every street scene worker is idle and lazy and the bin men do a perfectly good job in my area but the council is badly run and people do not like change. please vote carefully in future.

i worked for the council as a school cook. my hours were 25 a week. they were then knocked down to 15. the union stepped in and nothing was done. I lost 10 hours pay a week. we asked about the top earners getting a 5% pay cut. the idea was thrown out of the window never even thought about. I walk to work and every day a man is clearing the rubbish in Stanhope park left there daily by the students. he does not work for the council he does it for free. I walked in a park at the top of woodlands road last week and saw a streetscene worker playing on the swings whilst 2 other workers looked on. another was on the grass cutter doing some work. I know not every street scene worker is idle and lazy and the bin men do a perfectly good job in my area but the council is badly run and people do not like change. please vote carefully in future.loopeyloo75

i worked for the council as a school cook. my hours were 25 a week. they were then knocked down to 15. the union stepped in and nothing was done. I lost 10 hours pay a week. we asked about the top earners getting a 5% pay cut. the idea was thrown out of the window never even thought about. I walk to work and every day a man is clearing the rubbish in Stanhope park left there daily by the students. he does not work for the council he does it for free. I walked in a park at the top of woodlands road last week and saw a streetscene worker playing on the swings whilst 2 other workers looked on. another was on the grass cutter doing some work. I know not every street scene worker is idle and lazy and the bin men do a perfectly good job in my area but the council is badly run and people do not like change. please vote carefully in future.

Score: 3

Border Terrier
8:57pm Thu 1 May 14

thetruthyoucanthandl
ethetruth wrote…

RealLivin wrote…

David Lacey wrote…

HILARIOUS! You complain then vote them back in. When will the penny drop?

To True its about time voters actually looked at the people they vote for and their polices, not I vote Labour/Tories cause my dad, did and his dad did. How much good have these councilors done after all the years they have been there, new councilors might not do any better but at least we tried them and whats more is existing councilors are more likely to get it right if there is a chance they will loose their cushy numbers. dont vote for parties vote for people.

It's because most voters in the North East are Lemmings with a pit village mentality.

This is the primary reason why the region is so stuck in the past and blighted with poverty and unemployment.

"Strange" But so very true!

[quote][p][bold]thetruthyoucanthandl
ethetruth[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]RealLivin[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]David Lacey[/bold] wrote:
HILARIOUS! You complain then vote them back in. When will the penny drop?[/p][/quote]To True its about time voters actually looked at the people they vote for and their polices, not I vote Labour/Tories cause my dad, did and his dad did. How much good have these councilors done after all the years they have been there, new councilors might not do any better but at least we tried them and whats more is existing councilors are more likely to get it right if there is a chance they will loose their cushy numbers. dont vote for parties vote for people.[/p][/quote]It's because most voters in the North East are Lemmings with a pit village mentality.
This is the primary reason why the region is so stuck in the past and blighted with poverty and unemployment.[/p][/quote]"Strange" But so very true!Border Terrier

thetruthyoucanthandl
ethetruth wrote…

RealLivin wrote…

David Lacey wrote…

HILARIOUS! You complain then vote them back in. When will the penny drop?

To True its about time voters actually looked at the people they vote for and their polices, not I vote Labour/Tories cause my dad, did and his dad did. How much good have these councilors done after all the years they have been there, new councilors might not do any better but at least we tried them and whats more is existing councilors are more likely to get it right if there is a chance they will loose their cushy numbers. dont vote for parties vote for people.

It's because most voters in the North East are Lemmings with a pit village mentality.

This is the primary reason why the region is so stuck in the past and blighted with poverty and unemployment.

"Strange" But so very true!

Score: -2

behonest
10:58pm Thu 1 May 14

Rosvanian wrote…

behonest wrote…

What are these working class binmen moaning about? At least it's a Labour council cutting their wages! Just after the same Labour council hit everyone in Darlo with the maximum council tax increase permitted by law. But just keep on voting Labour, you know you just have to... Vote UKIP! Just to spite these Labour loonies!

By their own admission, UKIP doesn't have any policies about anything other than Europe so why would anyone vote UKIP in a local election?

Because what's the alternative in Darlington - the Labour tax-crazy loonies? I think not.

[quote][p][bold]Rosvanian[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]behonest[/bold] wrote:
What are these working class binmen moaning about? At least it's a Labour council cutting their wages! Just after the same Labour council hit everyone in Darlo with the maximum council tax increase permitted by law. But just keep on voting Labour, you know you just have to... Vote UKIP! Just to spite these Labour loonies![/p][/quote]By their own admission, UKIP doesn't have any policies about anything other than Europe so why would anyone vote UKIP in a local election?[/p][/quote]Because what's the alternative in Darlington - the Labour tax-crazy loonies? I think not.behonest

Rosvanian wrote…

behonest wrote…

What are these working class binmen moaning about? At least it's a Labour council cutting their wages! Just after the same Labour council hit everyone in Darlo with the maximum council tax increase permitted by law. But just keep on voting Labour, you know you just have to... Vote UKIP! Just to spite these Labour loonies!

By their own admission, UKIP doesn't have any policies about anything other than Europe so why would anyone vote UKIP in a local election?

Because what's the alternative in Darlington - the Labour tax-crazy loonies? I think not.

Score: -1

Awake-in-Darlo
9:59am Fri 2 May 14

NOTODDEN wrote…

DM1989 wrote…

You agree with the cuts because of litter? Well report it! The council I believe has 3 litterpickers one of whom is permanently in the town centre. Due to CUTS there is more litter and dirty streets, these street scene lads do a good job and are entitled to a break, why you see them say out having a break is probably because they haven't got time to be going back to the yard. Compare council owned land to privately owned land with a public through way and you will see the difference!

Well said DM1989

Have you tried reporting anything to StreetScene lately ? Response is not exactly efficcient. Also have spotted little mini-sweepers skiving in back lanes while litter and doggy messes remain on the ground. (Sorry, having a break How cost effective are these mobile sweepers?) We need more than three people with plastic bags to pick litter. Several people with a cart,brush and shovel and not just in town centre perhaps ? If litter remains uncollected , some moron will add to it....fact ! Yeah yeah, poor council can`t afford etc. etc. Poor housekeeping !

[quote][p][bold]NOTODDEN[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]DM1989[/bold] wrote:
You agree with the cuts because of litter? Well report it! The council I believe has 3 litterpickers one of whom is permanently in the town centre. Due to CUTS there is more litter and dirty streets, these street scene lads do a good job and are entitled to a break, why you see them say out having a break is probably because they haven't got time to be going back to the yard. Compare council owned land to privately owned land with a public through way and you will see the difference![/p][/quote]Well said DM1989[/p][/quote]Have you tried reporting anything to StreetScene lately ? Response is not exactly efficcient. Also have spotted little mini-sweepers skiving in back lanes while litter and doggy messes remain on the ground. (Sorry, having a break How cost effective are these mobile sweepers?) We need more than three people with plastic bags to pick litter. Several people with a cart,brush and shovel and not just in town centre perhaps ? If litter remains uncollected , some moron will add to it....fact ! Yeah yeah, poor council can`t afford etc. etc. Poor housekeeping !Awake-in-Darlo

NOTODDEN wrote…

DM1989 wrote…

You agree with the cuts because of litter? Well report it! The council I believe has 3 litterpickers one of whom is permanently in the town centre. Due to CUTS there is more litter and dirty streets, these street scene lads do a good job and are entitled to a break, why you see them say out having a break is probably because they haven't got time to be going back to the yard. Compare council owned land to privately owned land with a public through way and you will see the difference!

Well said DM1989

Have you tried reporting anything to StreetScene lately ? Response is not exactly efficcient. Also have spotted little mini-sweepers skiving in back lanes while litter and doggy messes remain on the ground. (Sorry, having a break How cost effective are these mobile sweepers?) We need more than three people with plastic bags to pick litter. Several people with a cart,brush and shovel and not just in town centre perhaps ? If litter remains uncollected , some moron will add to it....fact ! Yeah yeah, poor council can`t afford etc. etc. Poor housekeeping !

Score: -4

DurhamDurham
2:30pm Fri 2 May 14

Load of rubbish (pun intended) a big majority of the Street Scene lads are skiving gits. There overpaid as it is compared to there private sector equivalent, besides private sector is profit orientated, there are targets and bonuses to hit. LG aren't accountable unto themselves and the shyster Councillors who quite evidently the majority are only in it for themselves. The town is a dump. Where are all these council workers then?

Rubbish here, rubbish there, grass uncut, trees overhanging so that its difficult to get down footpaths.

Mmmmm so overworked!!!!

Load of rubbish (pun intended) a big majority of the Street Scene lads are skiving gits. There overpaid as it is compared to there private sector equivalent, besides private sector is profit orientated, there are targets and bonuses to hit. LG aren't accountable unto themselves and the shyster Councillors who quite evidently the majority are only in it for themselves. The town is a dump. Where are all these council workers then?
Rubbish here, rubbish there, grass uncut, trees overhanging so that its difficult to get down footpaths.
Mmmmm so overworked!!!!DurhamDurham

Load of rubbish (pun intended) a big majority of the Street Scene lads are skiving gits. There overpaid as it is compared to there private sector equivalent, besides private sector is profit orientated, there are targets and bonuses to hit. LG aren't accountable unto themselves and the shyster Councillors who quite evidently the majority are only in it for themselves. The town is a dump. Where are all these council workers then?

Rubbish here, rubbish there, grass uncut, trees overhanging so that its difficult to get down footpaths.

Mmmmm so overworked!!!!

Score: -6

DurhamDurham
2:38pm Fri 2 May 14

DM1989 wrote…

You agree with the cuts because of litter? Well report it! The council I believe has 3 litterpickers one of whom is permanently in the town centre. Due to CUTS there is more litter and dirty streets, these street scene lads do a good job and are entitled to a break, why you see them say out having a break is probably because they haven't got time to be going back to the yard. Compare council owned land to privately owned land with a public through way and you will see the difference!

No time to go back to the yard, pah! More like they've been told not to go back!!!
The difference is that private is just that private and its up to whom ever owns the land to pay to have this cleaned, of course unless they are subjected to EPA regards litter clearance notices etc to which the council can serve them, then move in and infact clear it up themselves with a nice fee.

I as a council tax/tax payer in this country pay for the streets and common land owned by LG's to be cleansed. Several areas in this town, notably the Denes are a shithole due to the obvious care and attention that DBC and Street Scene in particular relish on them.

Not lazy my arse!!!

[quote][p][bold]DM1989[/bold] wrote:
You agree with the cuts because of litter? Well report it! The council I believe has 3 litterpickers one of whom is permanently in the town centre. Due to CUTS there is more litter and dirty streets, these street scene lads do a good job and are entitled to a break, why you see them say out having a break is probably because they haven't got time to be going back to the yard. Compare council owned land to privately owned land with a public through way and you will see the difference![/p][/quote]No time to go back to the yard, pah! More like they've been told not to go back!!!
The difference is that private is just that private and its up to whom ever owns the land to pay to have this cleaned, of course unless they are subjected to EPA regards litter clearance notices etc to which the council can serve them, then move in and infact clear it up themselves with a nice fee.
I as a council tax/tax payer in this country pay for the streets and common land owned by LG's to be cleansed. Several areas in this town, notably the Denes are a shithole due to the obvious care and attention that DBC and Street Scene in particular relish on them.
Not lazy my arse!!!DurhamDurham

DM1989 wrote…

You agree with the cuts because of litter? Well report it! The council I believe has 3 litterpickers one of whom is permanently in the town centre. Due to CUTS there is more litter and dirty streets, these street scene lads do a good job and are entitled to a break, why you see them say out having a break is probably because they haven't got time to be going back to the yard. Compare council owned land to privately owned land with a public through way and you will see the difference!

No time to go back to the yard, pah! More like they've been told not to go back!!!
The difference is that private is just that private and its up to whom ever owns the land to pay to have this cleaned, of course unless they are subjected to EPA regards litter clearance notices etc to which the council can serve them, then move in and infact clear it up themselves with a nice fee.

I as a council tax/tax payer in this country pay for the streets and common land owned by LG's to be cleansed. Several areas in this town, notably the Denes are a shithole due to the obvious care and attention that DBC and Street Scene in particular relish on them.

Not lazy my arse!!!

Score: -5

behonest
4:47pm Fri 2 May 14

Rosvanian wrote:
"By their own admission, UKIP doesn't have any policies about anything other than Europe"

Of course, I should also have pointed out that this statement of your is utterly ridiculous or, more probably, a blatant lie.

Rosvanian wrote:
"By their own admission, UKIP doesn't have any policies about anything other than Europe"
Of course, I should also have pointed out that this statement of your is utterly ridiculous or, more probably, a blatant lie.behonest

Rosvanian wrote:
"By their own admission, UKIP doesn't have any policies about anything other than Europe"

Of course, I should also have pointed out that this statement of your is utterly ridiculous or, more probably, a blatant lie.

Score: -2

bambara
8:37am Sat 3 May 14

Lots of opinion, but very little by way of facts.

The Tory cuts to council funding though are facts, and these are at the heart of the problem.
Imagine taking 25% out of your annual income, then work out what you would have to cut your spending on. Some things you wouldn't cut because they are essentials, but eventually if you cut and cut and cut, then even the essentials are hit.
The Tories want the blame for these cuts to fall on the council, even though they are imposed by the Tories on the councils, and even though they are imposed unequally against Labour councils far more so than against Tory ones. (The 10 most deprived areas in the country lost on average 25% while the 10 richest lost 2.5%, and some rich Tory areas saw funding increases)
Blaming the council for the cuts is like blaming a mugging victim for causing a mess by bleeding on the floor.

Lots of opinion, but very little by way of facts.
The Tory cuts to council funding though are facts, and these are at the heart of the problem.
Imagine taking 25% out of your annual income, then work out what you would have to cut your spending on. Some things you wouldn't cut because they are essentials, but eventually if you cut and cut and cut, then even the essentials are hit.
The Tories want the blame for these cuts to fall on the council, even though they are imposed by the Tories on the councils, and even though they are imposed unequally against Labour councils far more so than against Tory ones. (The 10 most deprived areas in the country lost on average 25% while the 10 richest lost 2.5%, and some rich Tory areas saw funding increases)
Blaming the council for the cuts is like blaming a mugging victim for causing a mess by bleeding on the floor.bambara

Lots of opinion, but very little by way of facts.

The Tory cuts to council funding though are facts, and these are at the heart of the problem.
Imagine taking 25% out of your annual income, then work out what you would have to cut your spending on. Some things you wouldn't cut because they are essentials, but eventually if you cut and cut and cut, then even the essentials are hit.
The Tories want the blame for these cuts to fall on the council, even though they are imposed by the Tories on the councils, and even though they are imposed unequally against Labour councils far more so than against Tory ones. (The 10 most deprived areas in the country lost on average 25% while the 10 richest lost 2.5%, and some rich Tory areas saw funding increases)
Blaming the council for the cuts is like blaming a mugging victim for causing a mess by bleeding on the floor.

Score: -6

David Lacey
9:56am Sat 3 May 14

Sorry bambi - it doesn't wash. First of all ANY businessman knows how to deal with income that fluctuates. But the councils aren't run by businessmen - they are run by the lowest of the low - politicians. Secondly - the careful use of the word "cuts" masks the truth. And the truth is that Tory run councils are generally leaner and lower cost than Labour. The latter almost always have much higher council tax so a percentage reduction simply hides the reality. Which is that the Labour areas still get MORE money per head of population.
.
Faced with a cut of 25% in my income, as boss I would match it with a 25% cut in my salary. How much have the gluttons at the top cut their ridiculous salaries? NOWT!

Sorry bambi - it doesn't wash. First of all ANY businessman knows how to deal with income that fluctuates. But the councils aren't run by businessmen - they are run by the lowest of the low - politicians. Secondly - the careful use of the word "cuts" masks the truth. And the truth is that Tory run councils are generally leaner and lower cost than Labour. The latter almost always have much higher council tax so a percentage reduction simply hides the reality. Which is that the Labour areas still get MORE money per head of population.
.
Faced with a cut of 25% in my income, as boss I would match it with a 25% cut in my salary. How much have the gluttons at the top cut their ridiculous salaries? NOWT!David Lacey

Sorry bambi - it doesn't wash. First of all ANY businessman knows how to deal with income that fluctuates. But the councils aren't run by businessmen - they are run by the lowest of the low - politicians. Secondly - the careful use of the word "cuts" masks the truth. And the truth is that Tory run councils are generally leaner and lower cost than Labour. The latter almost always have much higher council tax so a percentage reduction simply hides the reality. Which is that the Labour areas still get MORE money per head of population.
.
Faced with a cut of 25% in my income, as boss I would match it with a 25% cut in my salary. How much have the gluttons at the top cut their ridiculous salaries? NOWT!

Score: 0

Lifetime Townie
4:09pm Sun 4 May 14

NOTODDEN wrote…

Why is this group being targetted so disgracefully ? Why not achieve these savings by cutting salaries by whatever per cent of senior managers earning over 30k starting with Ada Burns ? These are DBC employees who at least provide a worthwhile service to the community in marked contrast to the high ranking pencil pushers who still infest this council

Because the town hall hierarchy salaries are ring fenced by themselves and won't discuss them as we have seen at the Talking Together meetings. The old saying of on law for us and another law for them applies to this scenario even though we are all in this together-ha- ha!

[quote][p][bold]NOTODDEN[/bold] wrote:
Why is this group being targetted so disgracefully ? Why not achieve these savings by cutting salaries by whatever per cent of senior managers earning over 30k starting with Ada Burns ? These are DBC employees who at least provide a worthwhile service to the community in marked contrast to the high ranking pencil pushers who still infest this council[/p][/quote]Because the town hall hierarchy salaries are ring fenced by themselves and won't discuss them as we have seen at the Talking Together meetings. The old saying of on law for us and another law for them applies to this scenario even though we are all in this together-ha- ha!Lifetime Townie

NOTODDEN wrote…

Why is this group being targetted so disgracefully ? Why not achieve these savings by cutting salaries by whatever per cent of senior managers earning over 30k starting with Ada Burns ? These are DBC employees who at least provide a worthwhile service to the community in marked contrast to the high ranking pencil pushers who still infest this council

Because the town hall hierarchy salaries are ring fenced by themselves and won't discuss them as we have seen at the Talking Together meetings. The old saying of on law for us and another law for them applies to this scenario even though we are all in this together-ha- ha!

Score: 3

bambara
10:59pm Sun 4 May 14

Sorry David but that is disingenous -"First of all ANY businessman knows how to deal with income that fluctuates." - Obviously not the case or there would not be any instances of businesses going bankrupt.
This part I can agree with, Tory or Labour, whoever we vote for the politicians always get in. -"But the councils aren't run by businessmen - they are run by the lowest of the low - politicians."
But back to unsubstantiated statements :-"Secondly - the careful use of the word "cuts" masks the truth. And the truth is that Tory run councils are generally leaner and lower cost than Labour." - Which itself masks the truth that Labour councils generally have to support a greater number of people in need of assistance, more disabled, more problem cases (druggies, criminals, socially disadvantaged) - That requires that a greater amount is spent on social services. Cut those budgets too far and you get more "baby P" type issues and an increase in crime.
Again disingenuous - "The latter almost always have much higher council tax" Council Tax at Band D for a council which has 90% of it's property in Bands A & B vs Council Tax at Band D for a council with most of it's properties in F/G/H is not an even comparison. Unfortunately we can not compare on Average cost of council Tax per person in the catchment area, which would even the figures up.
Band A pays 67% of Band D,
Band H pays 200% of Band D
So the value of the houses makes a big difference in how much the council gets. In the extreme a council with all Band A is getting only 33% of the amount that a council with only Band H is getting for the same number of properties. The Council with the Band A properties would have to have a headline rate of Council Tax at 3 times the level to get the same amount of money coming in.
And again you show no figures and no references - "so a percentage reduction simply hides the reality. Which is that the Labour areas still get MORE money per head of population."

Again I will refer you to the award that Durham CC recieved earlier this year for being The most effective & efficient council in the country, So the Truth is that Durham CC are run leaner and more efficiently than ANY other council in the country, and that against a background of ideologically driven cuts imposed from the centre. - & I will back that statement up, the Tories imposed a cap on council tax rises at a maximum of 2%, that is an increase that local councils can not exceed without a referendum, yet if the locally elected council are standing on an anti-cuts agenda (labour), and they win the vote, and the council, they have by definition a mandate to not cut services, and by inference to raise the tax level. That option though is denied to them by a central government who are all for devolution of power, so long as it does exactly what they want.

Sorry David but that is disingenous -"First of all ANY businessman knows how to deal with income that fluctuates." - Obviously not the case or there would not be any instances of businesses going bankrupt.
This part I can agree with, Tory or Labour, whoever we vote for the politicians always get in. -"But the councils aren't run by businessmen - they are run by the lowest of the low - politicians."
But back to unsubstantiated statements :-"Secondly - the careful use of the word "cuts" masks the truth. And the truth is that Tory run councils are generally leaner and lower cost than Labour." - Which itself masks the truth that Labour councils generally have to support a greater number of people in need of assistance, more disabled, more problem cases (druggies, criminals, socially disadvantaged) - That requires that a greater amount is spent on social services. Cut those budgets too far and you get more "baby P" type issues and an increase in crime.
Again disingenuous - "The latter almost always have much higher council tax" Council Tax at Band D for a council which has 90% of it's property in Bands A & B vs Council Tax at Band D for a council with most of it's properties in F/G/H is not an even comparison. Unfortunately we can not compare on Average cost of council Tax per person in the catchment area, which would even the figures up.
Band A pays 67% of Band D,
Band H pays 200% of Band D
So the value of the houses makes a big difference in how much the council gets. In the extreme a council with all Band A is getting only 33% of the amount that a council with only Band H is getting for the same number of properties. The Council with the Band A properties would have to have a headline rate of Council Tax at 3 times the level to get the same amount of money coming in.
And again you show no figures and no references - "so a percentage reduction simply hides the reality. Which is that the Labour areas still get MORE money per head of population."
Again I will refer you to the award that Durham CC recieved earlier this year for being The most effective & efficient council in the country, So the Truth is that Durham CC are run leaner and more efficiently than ANY other council in the country, and that against a background of ideologically driven cuts imposed from the centre. - & I will back that statement up, the Tories imposed a cap on council tax rises at a maximum of 2%, that is an increase that local councils can not exceed without a referendum, yet if the locally elected council are standing on an anti-cuts agenda (labour), and they win the vote, and the council, they have by definition a mandate to not cut services, and by inference to raise the tax level. That option though is denied to them by a central government who are all for devolution of power, so long as it does exactly what they want.bambara

Sorry David but that is disingenous -"First of all ANY businessman knows how to deal with income that fluctuates." - Obviously not the case or there would not be any instances of businesses going bankrupt.
This part I can agree with, Tory or Labour, whoever we vote for the politicians always get in. -"But the councils aren't run by businessmen - they are run by the lowest of the low - politicians."
But back to unsubstantiated statements :-"Secondly - the careful use of the word "cuts" masks the truth. And the truth is that Tory run councils are generally leaner and lower cost than Labour." - Which itself masks the truth that Labour councils generally have to support a greater number of people in need of assistance, more disabled, more problem cases (druggies, criminals, socially disadvantaged) - That requires that a greater amount is spent on social services. Cut those budgets too far and you get more "baby P" type issues and an increase in crime.
Again disingenuous - "The latter almost always have much higher council tax" Council Tax at Band D for a council which has 90% of it's property in Bands A & B vs Council Tax at Band D for a council with most of it's properties in F/G/H is not an even comparison. Unfortunately we can not compare on Average cost of council Tax per person in the catchment area, which would even the figures up.
Band A pays 67% of Band D,
Band H pays 200% of Band D
So the value of the houses makes a big difference in how much the council gets. In the extreme a council with all Band A is getting only 33% of the amount that a council with only Band H is getting for the same number of properties. The Council with the Band A properties would have to have a headline rate of Council Tax at 3 times the level to get the same amount of money coming in.
And again you show no figures and no references - "so a percentage reduction simply hides the reality. Which is that the Labour areas still get MORE money per head of population."

Again I will refer you to the award that Durham CC recieved earlier this year for being The most effective & efficient council in the country, So the Truth is that Durham CC are run leaner and more efficiently than ANY other council in the country, and that against a background of ideologically driven cuts imposed from the centre. - & I will back that statement up, the Tories imposed a cap on council tax rises at a maximum of 2%, that is an increase that local councils can not exceed without a referendum, yet if the locally elected council are standing on an anti-cuts agenda (labour), and they win the vote, and the council, they have by definition a mandate to not cut services, and by inference to raise the tax level. That option though is denied to them by a central government who are all for devolution of power, so long as it does exactly what they want.

Score: -2

behonest
10:02pm Mon 5 May 14

Bambara wrote:
"yet if the locally elected council are standing on an anti-cuts agenda (labour), and they win the vote, and the council, they have by definition a mandate to not cut services, and by inference to raise the tax level."

Ridiculous spin, even by Labour standards. Is Labour honest and say 'Vote for us and we will raise your council tax even further than we have previously'? Or do they say 'Vote for us, because we are 'anti-cuts'? (And then raise everyone's council tax afterwards, without people having a say, claiming it's to 'maintain services'). We all know they deceive people and do the latter.

But Labour are even worse than that. They keep raising council tax, but they also keep cutting services.

Bambara wrote:
"yet if the locally elected council are standing on an anti-cuts agenda (labour), and they win the vote, and the council, they have by definition a mandate to not cut services, and by inference to raise the tax level."
Ridiculous spin, even by Labour standards. Is Labour honest and say 'Vote for us and we will raise your council tax even further than we have previously'? Or do they say 'Vote for us, because we are 'anti-cuts'? (And then raise everyone's council tax afterwards, without people having a say, claiming it's to 'maintain services'). We all know they deceive people and do the latter.
But Labour are even worse than that. They keep raising council tax, but they also keep cutting services.behonest

Bambara wrote:
"yet if the locally elected council are standing on an anti-cuts agenda (labour), and they win the vote, and the council, they have by definition a mandate to not cut services, and by inference to raise the tax level."

Ridiculous spin, even by Labour standards. Is Labour honest and say 'Vote for us and we will raise your council tax even further than we have previously'? Or do they say 'Vote for us, because we are 'anti-cuts'? (And then raise everyone's council tax afterwards, without people having a say, claiming it's to 'maintain services'). We all know they deceive people and do the latter.

But Labour are even worse than that. They keep raising council tax, but they also keep cutting services.

Score: 3

Rover13
4:38pm Tue 6 May 14

Look at the amount of money being spent on empty offices, then we have a nightmare waiting to happen with the new road system on the ring road it's easy, go to Teesside park.

Look at the amount of money being spent on empty offices, then we have a nightmare waiting to happen with the new road system on the ring road it's easy, go to Teesside park.Rover13

Look at the amount of money being spent on empty offices, then we have a nightmare waiting to happen with the new road system on the ring road it's easy, go to Teesside park.

Ipsoregulated

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